Sheetboard coin bank



Dec. 10, 1963 A. G- JANUS SHEETBOARD com BANK Filed Sept. 18,

INVENTOR. Ale-x4405: 6. J40:

7 IORA/EY United States Patent Texas Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser- No. 138,897 1 Claim. (1. 229-8.5)

This invention relates to coin banks and more particularly to a fabricated coin bank.

A general object of this invention is to provide a fabricated coin bank which is an improvement over that disclosed in my co-pending application for a Sheetboard Coin Bank, filed on April 17, 1961, Serial Number 103,287.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide flat sheet components capable of being formed into a light-weight coin bank to hold a quantity of coins of different denominations which may be sold directly or used in business promotion by banks, or similar establishments, and, by virtue of their flat form, easily accommodate themselves to mailing purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide at least one of the coin bank components in the form of a tubular element constructed to have a viewing area for coins contained therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin bank as described above which has a minimum of elements for maximum simplicity and economy.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the completely fabricated coin bank having coins contained therein;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the second cover means ready for fabrication and shown in reduced size;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the element of FIGURE 2 but in an opened and flat condition;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view to that of FIGURE 2 but of the first cover means;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the element of FIGURE 4 but in an opened and flat condition;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view to that of FIGURE 4 but of the spacer;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the element of FIGURE 6 but in an opened and fiat condition;

FIGURE 8 is a similar view to that of FIGURE 6 wherein the coin holding chutes are shown secured to the base;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the base;

FIGURE 10 is a view of a typical chute having the sides thereof flattened out into a single plane; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of FIGURE 1 taken on line 11-11 to show the interfitting construction of the various coin bank components.

Referring more specifically now to FIGURES 8 and 10, the initial construction of the coin bank is shown wherein a plurality of flat sheet components 10 are bent into a rectangular shape along fold lines 11 to form coin chutes 12. When the coin chutes 12 are secured to the base 13 in an upright position as shown, the result is that a hollow chamber 14 is formed having outwardly directed corner edges 15 thereof opened to expose the interior.

FIGURE 9 shows in greater detail the base 13. Located in each of the four corners 16, 17, 18 and 19 is a pair of mounting slots 20. As will be noted, each pair of mounting slots defines a differently sized space on the base. The purpose of these differences is to acice commodate variously sized chutes (as shown in FIG- URE 8) in the base at each of the four corners thereof. Four denominations of coins may thus be respectively received and collected. For example, the mounting slots 20 in corner 16 may be displaced sufficiently to accommodate dimes in the chute number 21 as shown in FIG- URE 8. Likewise, the mounting slots 20 of corner 17 may accommodate quarters in chute 22, mounting holes in corner 18 may accommodate pennies in chute 23, and

mounting slots 20 in corner 19 may accommodate nickels 1n chute 24.

When the coin chutes 12 are installed upon the base 13, the upper ends 25 are substantially of equal distance from the base surface 26. The lower ends 27 of the coin chutes are secured to the base by inserting the feet 28 (see FIGURE 10) through the mounting slots 29 and then twisting the locking tabs 29. In this manner, the upper edges 34 of the locking tabs will be swung away from the mounting slots 20 and repositioned to secure the chute to the base by exerting locking pressure on the under side of the base.

Once the chutes 12 have been secured to the base 13, as shown in FIGURE 8, a means for maintaining the chutes in spaced upstanding position, such as spacer 31, is installed. The spacer, shown in its condition ready for installation (as seen in FIGURE 6), is shown in its flat condition in FIGURE 7. The spacer consists of four equal sized side plates 32, each being hingedly secured to a cross member 33 by a fold line 34. As may be seen in FIGURE 7, the side plates 32 and cross member 33 form various sized open areas 35 which are of proportional dimensional to the respective denominational sized chutes 12. Accordingly each of the arms 36 of cross member 33 are of different width and configuration.

It will be noted at this time that by hinging the side plates 32 and cross member arms 36 at a fold line 34 which is displaced from the inner edge 37, a larger opening which accommodates the outside dimension of the respective chute, is provided which is typically indicated in FIGURE 7 by dotted line 38.

By providing the fold lines 34 below the edge 37, it will be seen in FIGURE 6 that the upper plate portion 39 is positioned above the fold line or pivot point 34. In this manner, when the spacer is installed about the coin chutes 12, the lower end 40 of the side plates 32 will not tend to project outwardly, due to the bending forces of fold line 34, since the upper portion 39 will have a counteractant force which will be exerted inwardly on the side wall of the chute. Thus, the spacer is more neatly and positively secured about the chutes.

Once the spacer is installed upon the elements shown in FIGURE 8, the first cover 41 of cover means 42 is installed. As shown in FIGURE 4, the first cover 41 has a top portion 43 and a pair of side portions 44 secured at opposite sides 45 and 46 of the top 43. The side portions 44 are not of equal width to that of top portion 43 since the corners 47 are cut in angles as shown. In this manner, the outwardly visible vertical openings, defined by outwardly directed corners 15, are not enclosed or covered by the side portions 44. This is important so that coins may be viewed when contained in the chambers 14. The lower ends of the side portions 44 each have feet 48 and locking tabs 49 (see FIGURE 5) similar to those of the coin chutes 12, as previously described, which function in the same manner to hold the cover member 41 to the base 13.

The side portions 44 are of such length that the top 43 will lightly rest upon the upper ends 25 of the chutes 12. Positioned in the four corners of the top are cover openings 50 of different size to accommodate the various coins as explained above. Each of the cover openings 50 overlies one of the coin chutes 12 respectively.

FIGURE shows the first cover 41 in a flat condition prior to the side portions being bent along edges 45 and 46.

FIGURE 2 shows the second cover 51, of cover means 42, which has a top portion 52 with side portions 53 se cured along fold line edges 54 and 55. The side portions 53 are displaced or rotated 90 degrees upon the second cover 52 with respect to that of first cover means 41 so that the side portions 53, when secured at the lower ends thereof to the base, will cover the other two of the four sides of the bank. Again, the side portions have feet (see FIGURE 3) similar to those of the first cover at 48 and 49.

The second cover top portion 52 is provided with coin slots 56 similar in size and location to those of the first cover 41 excepting that they are narrower. The purpose of the diiierent coin openings and coin slot configurations is to eliminate the coin slipping between the top portions 43 and 52 of the first and second covers respectively when a coin is inserted into a coin slot 56 as shown in FIG URE 1.

Similar to that of the first cover 41, the second cover 51 has its side portions 53 of a narrower dimension than the top 52 so that again, the corner openings of the coin chutes are not covered, the ultimate result of this arrangement being shown in FIGURE 1 where the coins 57, contained within the chamber 14, are readily visible.

FIGURE 3 shows the second cover 51 in an open flat condition prior to its being folded to a configuration as shown in FIGURE 2.

When all of the components just described have been folded and fitted together, the final result is a fabricated slieetboard coin bank 58 as shown in FIGURE 1. After the components have been assembled, a transparent sheet of material 59 such as clear plastic may be wrapped around the outside to more positively hold the components together as well as to provide a smooth and continuous surface.

FIGURE 11 discloses a cross-sectional view of FIG- URE 1 wherein the relation of the components is shown after the completed assembly. It is seen how the spacer side plates 32 are positioned between the coin chute 12 and the first cover side portion 44. Also shown are the foot portions 28 and 48 as they project through the base mounting slot 20. The locking tabs 29 and 49 are also shown.

Since in the construction of this coin bank the side portions 44 and 53 of the cover means are fiat and exposed outwardly in the final construction, it is apparent that each of the side portions may have printing thereon such as a patriotic or advertising picture, or writing such as a thrift slogan. The transparent sheet, of course, will not obliterate any such decoration on the side portions and allows visibility of the coins as previously explained.

The present invention has been described as being fabricated out of flat individual components. However, the

components readily lend themselves to origination in a single flat integral sheet of cardboard or other similar material. The various openings and side edges would be perforated or prepared in a similar manner for mannually punching and separating the components from the main sheet of material.

Through the above it is seen that a fabricated sheetboard coin bank has been provided which, because of the type of construction and material, will have a suificient structural strength while at the same time requiring a minimum weight of material. Obviously, the device is very inexpensive and serves a very useful purpose in regard to savings promotions programs, or similar activities by establishments such as banks.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A sheet fabricated coin bank comprising, a base having mounting holes therethrough, a plurality of coin chutes secured at the lower ends thereof to said base in spaced relation and upstanding position, each of said chutes forming coin holding chambers of different sizes adapted to receive and retain various size denomination coins, each of said chutes also having on one side thereof an upstanding opening for exposing exteriorly said coin holding chambers, a spacer for maintaining said chutes in upstanding and spaced relation, a cover means secured to said base and enclosing a portion of the sides of said plurality of chutes, said cover means also overlying the upper ends of said chutes and having different sized cover openings therethrough corresponding to the sizes of said chutes and each adapted to receive a particular denomination size coin, each of said cover openings overlying its respectively sized chute, and a transparent sheet overlying said cover means at the sides thereof, whereby when coins are positioned in said chambers they will be visible externally through said upright openings and said transparent sheet, said cover means including a first cover having a top portion and a pair of side portions secured to opposite sides of said top portion, said pair of first cover side portions being secured to said base adjacent the edges and on opposite sides thereof, and a second cover having a top portion and pair of side portions similar to that of said first cover, said second cover top portion overlying said first cover top portion but rotated degrees, whereby said second cover pair of side portions when secured to the base in similar manner to that of said first cover will not overlap said first cover side portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,623 Kriegsfcld Nov. 15, 1938 2,281,424 Englert Apr. 28, 1942 2,532,857 Ricciardi Dec. 5, 1950 MW in 

